If you've signed up for The Glass Slipper Challenge and are using The Jeff Galloway running program, you begin your first run on October 20th. The training program includes 45 minute runs every Tuesday and Thursday. If you're a runner like myself, you're likely running 45 minutes a few times a week anyways. I've put together a fun Disney Princess-Inspired playlist for my fellow runners to get you in the spirit for Princess Half Marathon Weekend! I used a combination of hits directly from Disney movies, as well as energizing songs from artists who got their start through Disney. I hope my list gets you pumped and brings back some memories!
1. Demi Lovato- Cool for the Summer 3:34
2. Ashley Tisdale- Kiss the Girl 3:24
3. Hilary Duff- Come Clean 3:34
4. Demi Lovato- Let It Go 3:47
5. Britney Spears- I Wanna Go 3:39
6. Hilary Duff- Sparks 3:05
7. Mandy Moore- When Will My Life Begin? 2:32
8. Demi Lovato- I Really Don't Care 3:35
9. Hilary Duff- Why Not 2:59
10. Britney Spears- 'Til the World Ends 3:57
11. Miley Cyrus- See You Again 3:10
12. Demi Lovato- Heart Attack 3:30
13. Kelly Clarkson- Breakaway 3:57
14. Carrie Underwood- Ever Ever After 3:29
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Racecation
Racecation. What is it? The insanity of traveling somewhere far away to run an outrageous amount of miles. So what's the point in making a weekend (or weeklong) trip for a race and how does one prepare for one? I'm about to tell you! Plus, I share seven popular races that are on my racecation wishlist.
I experienced my first racecation in February 2014 when I drove to Orlando, Florida for the Disney Princess Half Marathon. Traveling from North Carolina, I experienced a race weekend that I never could have imagined in my hometown. Greeted with a Health and Fitness Expo which was fit for a princess, I instantly felt connected to the thousands of women who had traveled to Walt Disney World in order to earn their glass slippers (and right to be called a "half marathoner"). I also got to see Disney World through a runner's eyes. After the race, I proudly wore my finisher medal around Magic Kingdom. Passing other runners in the park sporting their hard-earned medal, we would all smile and congratulate each other. I also never got tired of hearing Disney cast members say "Congratulations, Princess!"
If you truly want to celebrate your accomplishment, I highly recommend travelling to a large weekend race. There's something special about spending an entire weekend immersing yourself in race activities and sharing your passion with thousands of other runners. If you've never ran a half marathon, it definitely keeps you motivated during training to know you will be rewarding yourself with a getaway for your race.
I ended up spending a week in Florida after my race. There's so much to do on Disney property, how could I possibly fit it all into one weekend? If you're going to spend a week at your racecation destination, you have a decision to make. Should you start your racecation with the race or end it with the race? In my experience, starting your trip with the race is best. A week in a new place before a long run could hinder your training. It's also challenging to stay focused and fuel your body with the right foods. Arriving the day before the race, I recommend going on a 20-30 minute run to accommodate yourself to the running conditions and stretch your muscles from traveling.
Here are some other tips I have prepared for planning your first (or next) racecation:
Ask about runner's discounts! When I was planning for Orlando, several hotels offered discounts to those travelling specifically for the race (one even offered late checkout on the day of the half marathon to allow runners time to shower before checkout out)! In addition, I shopped at the Lulu Lemon outlet store for some last minute necessities and discovered they offered a 15% discount with proof of race registration. Not sure if someone will offer you a runner's discount? Just ask! Share with me any runner's discounts you have received while taking a racecation so I can feature them!
Don't forget to pack all your necessities. You can never go wrong with extra socks. I highly recommend an anti-chaffing stick. You can even purchase travel size ones small enough to carry on race day. I bring my own mini-breakfast to the hotel, too. You don't want to eat anything heavy before the race, but items such as bananas are easy to store without refrigeration and can provide you with extra energy pre-race.
Make a reservation for one of your favorite restaurants the night before your race. Depending on the time of your race, you may want to make it early in the evening. Make sure you fuel up on carbs and hydrate yourself with a lot of water. It's tough to remember to drink water when you're out of town, so bring a fun water bottle to remind yourself!
Now it's time for me to share the racecations I currently have on my wish list!
1) Rock 'n' Roll Marathon series: http://www.runrocknroll.com/
There are two dozen cities that host the RNR Half Marathon & Marathon race weekends. Of those 24, ten of them offer an endurance challenge allowing runners to receive an extra medal for running a 10k the day before their marathon or half marathon. In addition, this series offers "heavy medal" race bling for those taking on half marathons in multiple cities in one year. I'm interested in Chicago, Las Vegas, Nashville, New Orleans and Savannah. A five-city race tour would earn the coveted "Roadie" heavy medal. There are also limited edition medals each year with race requirements constantly changing, so check their website for information on qualifying for those medals. If you love bling like I do, The Rock 'n' Roll race series is definitely the way to fill up your medal rack. And for $479, you can register for any of the races in 2016. They also offer a Tour Pass 3-pack that allows you to select any three cities in 2016 for $219. This is a race series that will allow you to discover new cities while doing what you love! Where has your tour pass taken you?!?
2) Nike Women's Half Marathon: San Fransisco, CA October 18, 2015 http://www.nike.com/us/en_us/c/women/events
The most popular women's-themed race in the country, The Nike Women's Half Marathon rewards runners with a Tiffany necklace at the finish line. What could be better than running the hills of San Fransisco with 20,000 other women and receiving a medal you can wear every day? Not much. This race has become so popular though, they have a random drawing for selecting participants. If you're lucky enough to get into this race, it's going to be a memorable one!
3) Disneyland Paris Half Marathon: Paris, France September 23-25, 2016 http://run.disneylandparis.com/
RunDisney announced the Inaugural Disneyland Paris Half Marathon early this year and ever since they have been building the anticipation for their first international race. They recently announced the decision to release an additional medal commemorating the "Castle to Chateau Coast race Challenge." Runners receive this race bling for completing a marathon or half marathon at Disney World or a half marathon at Disneyland and the half marathon at Disneyland Paris. I've never been to Paris, but a runDisney race seems like a good excuse to go!
4) Run and Ride Half Marathon Series: http://www.runandriderace.com/
In 2015, five Cedar Fair parks in five different cities are offering runners the chance to run through the parks and spend an entire day enjoying the thrilling rides. You get FREE PARK ADMISSION with your registration fee! All locations host two day events and include a 1 mile, 5k, 10k, and half marathon distance. This race series is a great alternative to travelling to larger cities on my list. For example, Carowinds is slightly over an hour drive from my home. I can make a day trip, or stay with friends for the weekend since half marathon runners receive TWO day park admission with their registration!! I will be running this race series for the first time in September with the Carowinds Half Marathon. Visit www.runandriderace.com and use offer code BARBIERUNS to receive 10% off your registration! In addition to Carowinds, this race series also visits Cedar Point, Dorney Park, Kings Island and Valley Fair. Who else is running this race with me?
5) New York City Marathon: New York, NY November 1, 2015 http://www.tcsnycmarathon.org/
I would be totally lying if I said I wanted to run this race without the expectation of seeing a celebrity. Ryan Reynolds has finished The New York City Marathon. I would run 26.2 miles for the chance to see Ryan Reynolds. This marathon has grown over the last 45 years to become the largest and most popular race in the world. You can run through the city with over 50,000 other participants! Plus, imagine how much pizza you could eat guilt-free after the race. I don't think it would be difficult to find an incredible pizza pie in this city.
6) Key West Half Marathon and 5k: Key West, FL January 17, 2016 http://www.keywesthalfmarathon.com/
This race has been featured in Runner's World as a top race destination. It's relatively small with roughly 4,000 finishers and features a fast, flat course along The Atlantic Ocean. You had me at FLAT COURSE. I would celebrate this one with some oysters and boat drinks afterwards at any of the local beach bars in The Florida Keys.
7) Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend: January 6-10, 2016 http://www.rundisney.com/disneyworld-marathon/
This weekend offers something for all levels of runners. Ranging from a 5k to a marathon, with challenges in between, runners can select various different distances ranging over four days. They can also, of course, select to run all four races! That's what I'll be achieving in January and it's called The Dopey Challenge. It's the runDisney challenge with the longest distance and most amount of races. Most importantly it awards runners with the most amount of bling: six medals total for the entire weekend. Although I've never participated in this weekend, you can read about my experience with registration right here to prepare yourself for The Walt Disney Marathon Weekend. Also, don't forget to donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital so I can reach my fundraising goal! Marathon weekend also hosts two Kids Races events with no age requirements. I don't have children, but when I do they'll be running Disney right there with me!
Have you traveled somewhere for a race? Tell me your favorite racecation destinations!
I experienced my first racecation in February 2014 when I drove to Orlando, Florida for the Disney Princess Half Marathon. Traveling from North Carolina, I experienced a race weekend that I never could have imagined in my hometown. Greeted with a Health and Fitness Expo which was fit for a princess, I instantly felt connected to the thousands of women who had traveled to Walt Disney World in order to earn their glass slippers (and right to be called a "half marathoner"). I also got to see Disney World through a runner's eyes. After the race, I proudly wore my finisher medal around Magic Kingdom. Passing other runners in the park sporting their hard-earned medal, we would all smile and congratulate each other. I also never got tired of hearing Disney cast members say "Congratulations, Princess!"
If you truly want to celebrate your accomplishment, I highly recommend travelling to a large weekend race. There's something special about spending an entire weekend immersing yourself in race activities and sharing your passion with thousands of other runners. If you've never ran a half marathon, it definitely keeps you motivated during training to know you will be rewarding yourself with a getaway for your race.
I ended up spending a week in Florida after my race. There's so much to do on Disney property, how could I possibly fit it all into one weekend? If you're going to spend a week at your racecation destination, you have a decision to make. Should you start your racecation with the race or end it with the race? In my experience, starting your trip with the race is best. A week in a new place before a long run could hinder your training. It's also challenging to stay focused and fuel your body with the right foods. Arriving the day before the race, I recommend going on a 20-30 minute run to accommodate yourself to the running conditions and stretch your muscles from traveling.
Here are some other tips I have prepared for planning your first (or next) racecation:
Ask about runner's discounts! When I was planning for Orlando, several hotels offered discounts to those travelling specifically for the race (one even offered late checkout on the day of the half marathon to allow runners time to shower before checkout out)! In addition, I shopped at the Lulu Lemon outlet store for some last minute necessities and discovered they offered a 15% discount with proof of race registration. Not sure if someone will offer you a runner's discount? Just ask! Share with me any runner's discounts you have received while taking a racecation so I can feature them!
Don't forget to pack all your necessities. You can never go wrong with extra socks. I highly recommend an anti-chaffing stick. You can even purchase travel size ones small enough to carry on race day. I bring my own mini-breakfast to the hotel, too. You don't want to eat anything heavy before the race, but items such as bananas are easy to store without refrigeration and can provide you with extra energy pre-race.
Make a reservation for one of your favorite restaurants the night before your race. Depending on the time of your race, you may want to make it early in the evening. Make sure you fuel up on carbs and hydrate yourself with a lot of water. It's tough to remember to drink water when you're out of town, so bring a fun water bottle to remind yourself!
Now it's time for me to share the racecations I currently have on my wish list!
1) Rock 'n' Roll Marathon series: http://www.runrocknroll.com/
There are two dozen cities that host the RNR Half Marathon & Marathon race weekends. Of those 24, ten of them offer an endurance challenge allowing runners to receive an extra medal for running a 10k the day before their marathon or half marathon. In addition, this series offers "heavy medal" race bling for those taking on half marathons in multiple cities in one year. I'm interested in Chicago, Las Vegas, Nashville, New Orleans and Savannah. A five-city race tour would earn the coveted "Roadie" heavy medal. There are also limited edition medals each year with race requirements constantly changing, so check their website for information on qualifying for those medals. If you love bling like I do, The Rock 'n' Roll race series is definitely the way to fill up your medal rack. And for $479, you can register for any of the races in 2016. They also offer a Tour Pass 3-pack that allows you to select any three cities in 2016 for $219. This is a race series that will allow you to discover new cities while doing what you love! Where has your tour pass taken you?!?
2) Nike Women's Half Marathon: San Fransisco, CA October 18, 2015 http://www.nike.com/us/en_us/c/women/events
The most popular women's-themed race in the country, The Nike Women's Half Marathon rewards runners with a Tiffany necklace at the finish line. What could be better than running the hills of San Fransisco with 20,000 other women and receiving a medal you can wear every day? Not much. This race has become so popular though, they have a random drawing for selecting participants. If you're lucky enough to get into this race, it's going to be a memorable one!
3) Disneyland Paris Half Marathon: Paris, France September 23-25, 2016 http://run.disneylandparis.com/
RunDisney announced the Inaugural Disneyland Paris Half Marathon early this year and ever since they have been building the anticipation for their first international race. They recently announced the decision to release an additional medal commemorating the "Castle to Chateau Coast race Challenge." Runners receive this race bling for completing a marathon or half marathon at Disney World or a half marathon at Disneyland and the half marathon at Disneyland Paris. I've never been to Paris, but a runDisney race seems like a good excuse to go!
4) Run and Ride Half Marathon Series: http://www.runandriderace.com/
In 2015, five Cedar Fair parks in five different cities are offering runners the chance to run through the parks and spend an entire day enjoying the thrilling rides. You get FREE PARK ADMISSION with your registration fee! All locations host two day events and include a 1 mile, 5k, 10k, and half marathon distance. This race series is a great alternative to travelling to larger cities on my list. For example, Carowinds is slightly over an hour drive from my home. I can make a day trip, or stay with friends for the weekend since half marathon runners receive TWO day park admission with their registration!! I will be running this race series for the first time in September with the Carowinds Half Marathon. Visit www.runandriderace.com and use offer code BARBIERUNS to receive 10% off your registration! In addition to Carowinds, this race series also visits Cedar Point, Dorney Park, Kings Island and Valley Fair. Who else is running this race with me?
5) New York City Marathon: New York, NY November 1, 2015 http://www.tcsnycmarathon.org/
I would be totally lying if I said I wanted to run this race without the expectation of seeing a celebrity. Ryan Reynolds has finished The New York City Marathon. I would run 26.2 miles for the chance to see Ryan Reynolds. This marathon has grown over the last 45 years to become the largest and most popular race in the world. You can run through the city with over 50,000 other participants! Plus, imagine how much pizza you could eat guilt-free after the race. I don't think it would be difficult to find an incredible pizza pie in this city.
6) Key West Half Marathon and 5k: Key West, FL January 17, 2016 http://www.keywesthalfmarathon.com/
This race has been featured in Runner's World as a top race destination. It's relatively small with roughly 4,000 finishers and features a fast, flat course along The Atlantic Ocean. You had me at FLAT COURSE. I would celebrate this one with some oysters and boat drinks afterwards at any of the local beach bars in The Florida Keys.
7) Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend: January 6-10, 2016 http://www.rundisney.com/disneyworld-marathon/
This weekend offers something for all levels of runners. Ranging from a 5k to a marathon, with challenges in between, runners can select various different distances ranging over four days. They can also, of course, select to run all four races! That's what I'll be achieving in January and it's called The Dopey Challenge. It's the runDisney challenge with the longest distance and most amount of races. Most importantly it awards runners with the most amount of bling: six medals total for the entire weekend. Although I've never participated in this weekend, you can read about my experience with registration right here to prepare yourself for The Walt Disney Marathon Weekend. Also, don't forget to donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital so I can reach my fundraising goal! Marathon weekend also hosts two Kids Races events with no age requirements. I don't have children, but when I do they'll be running Disney right there with me!
Have you traveled somewhere for a race? Tell me your favorite racecation destinations!
Friday, June 19, 2015
Three Day Refresh Review
On Monday, I started The Three Day Refresh with a goal of losing at least 5 pounds. I exceeded my goal and wanted to share my experience on this product with all of you. I am a BeachBody coach and I promote and sell this product, but this is my honest opinion of my experience taking The Three Day Refresh. I purchased this product on my own and did not receive any compensation from BeachBody for writing this review.
"This 3-day program of specially formulated shakes, easy-to-prepare clean meals, and healthy snacks has been scientifically designed to help you break the cycle of bad eating habits, lose weight, detoxify your body, and dramatically improve the way you feel—without starving."
That is the description directly from BeachBody's website. From my experience, The Three Day Refresh delivered everything it promised. I lost weight. I feel extremely energized. I slept better. I instantly improved my eating habits. I even lost an additional pound on the first day off the cleanse for a total of 6.4 lb. gone!
The Three Day Refresh was certainly effective. It wasn't easy though, and the first day was the most difficult. My boyfriend most accurately describes my mood as "hangry," but he was supportive of my lifestyle change for the three days this cleanse lasted. I followed the nutrition plan precisely, choosing the asparagus for my meal at dinnertime. I love asparagus so this recipe looked the most appetizing to me. I went to bed on day one a little low on energy and slightly bloated. I woke up on Day 2 feeling like a completely different person, though! I stepped on the scale to see I had already lost 1.4 lb! In the mirror, my stomach was visibly flatter.
This instant gratification made it much more encouraging and easier to get through Day 2. The shakes were my favorite part. I actually really enjoyed the Vanilla Fresh shakes. I wish BeachBody would sell these individually because I enjoyed them THAT much! They taste best if the water is cold. I shook ice in my blender before mixing in the powder from Vanilla Fresh. I've been drinking Shakeology since November 2014, so I already knew how delicious those were. The Fiber Sweep was my least favorite. My advice on this one: chug it. It thickens the longer it sits, so you're best off drinking it all immediately. At no point during Day 2 did I feel hungry. I was a little irritated I couldn't come home and drink wine (the no alcohol limitation is probably the biggest con for me) but I got through it.
I woke up on Day 3 ecstatic to see I had lost a total of 4 pounds! Day 3 was the easiest for me. The shakes and meals were so fulfilling that I didn't even feel the need to eat my second fruit or vegetable for the day. I was full. I didn't crave any bad foods, although I made a mental list of all the foods I wanted to eat after the cleanse (cheese fries, cheese fries, cheese fries). Even the irritation from being unable to drink alcohol subsided. I was feeling so great, I commented that "I could spend another day or two on this cleanse." Once you stick through the first day, The Three Day Refresh does get better. It gets easier and you begin seeing results from the second morning. After the third day, I had lost 5.4 lb.
The results are lasting, though. I woke up the day after this cleanse craving Shakeology. I didn't rush to call my favorite pizza place and order an XL double cheese pizza. I woke up and made healthy choices, drank Shakeology, and had a few light beers that night. I also went through my closet and admired the many Lilly Pulitzer dresses hanging that I'm very close to fitting into. This product was an investment and part of me does not want to ruin that. The other part of me feels completely rejuvenated from this cleanse and wants to continue the process. I have goals set and The Three Day Refresh has absolutely been a way for me to get closer to accomplishing these goals.
If you have any questions about The Three Day Refresh, please do not hesitate to ask me! As a BeachBody coach, my team runs monthly challenges the help encourage, motivate and keep you accountable when using our products. Although I did not partake in The Three Day Refresh as a challenge, I can put you in one and help you each step of the way. My next step is another round of The 21 Day Fix. The Three Day Refresh is a great way to jump start this program, too! A video for The Three Day Refresh can be found at http://bcove.me/ujlefhz0 If you're ready to start this cleanse, you can purchase The Three Day Refresh at http://www.beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/amandaruns131 by selecting "Shop Team BeachBody" and selecting "Three Day Refresh" on the left panel. Good luck!
xoxo, Run Barbie
"This 3-day program of specially formulated shakes, easy-to-prepare clean meals, and healthy snacks has been scientifically designed to help you break the cycle of bad eating habits, lose weight, detoxify your body, and dramatically improve the way you feel—without starving."
That is the description directly from BeachBody's website. From my experience, The Three Day Refresh delivered everything it promised. I lost weight. I feel extremely energized. I slept better. I instantly improved my eating habits. I even lost an additional pound on the first day off the cleanse for a total of 6.4 lb. gone!
The Three Day Refresh was certainly effective. It wasn't easy though, and the first day was the most difficult. My boyfriend most accurately describes my mood as "hangry," but he was supportive of my lifestyle change for the three days this cleanse lasted. I followed the nutrition plan precisely, choosing the asparagus for my meal at dinnertime. I love asparagus so this recipe looked the most appetizing to me. I went to bed on day one a little low on energy and slightly bloated. I woke up on Day 2 feeling like a completely different person, though! I stepped on the scale to see I had already lost 1.4 lb! In the mirror, my stomach was visibly flatter.
This instant gratification made it much more encouraging and easier to get through Day 2. The shakes were my favorite part. I actually really enjoyed the Vanilla Fresh shakes. I wish BeachBody would sell these individually because I enjoyed them THAT much! They taste best if the water is cold. I shook ice in my blender before mixing in the powder from Vanilla Fresh. I've been drinking Shakeology since November 2014, so I already knew how delicious those were. The Fiber Sweep was my least favorite. My advice on this one: chug it. It thickens the longer it sits, so you're best off drinking it all immediately. At no point during Day 2 did I feel hungry. I was a little irritated I couldn't come home and drink wine (the no alcohol limitation is probably the biggest con for me) but I got through it.
I woke up on Day 3 ecstatic to see I had lost a total of 4 pounds! Day 3 was the easiest for me. The shakes and meals were so fulfilling that I didn't even feel the need to eat my second fruit or vegetable for the day. I was full. I didn't crave any bad foods, although I made a mental list of all the foods I wanted to eat after the cleanse (cheese fries, cheese fries, cheese fries). Even the irritation from being unable to drink alcohol subsided. I was feeling so great, I commented that "I could spend another day or two on this cleanse." Once you stick through the first day, The Three Day Refresh does get better. It gets easier and you begin seeing results from the second morning. After the third day, I had lost 5.4 lb.
The results are lasting, though. I woke up the day after this cleanse craving Shakeology. I didn't rush to call my favorite pizza place and order an XL double cheese pizza. I woke up and made healthy choices, drank Shakeology, and had a few light beers that night. I also went through my closet and admired the many Lilly Pulitzer dresses hanging that I'm very close to fitting into. This product was an investment and part of me does not want to ruin that. The other part of me feels completely rejuvenated from this cleanse and wants to continue the process. I have goals set and The Three Day Refresh has absolutely been a way for me to get closer to accomplishing these goals.
If you have any questions about The Three Day Refresh, please do not hesitate to ask me! As a BeachBody coach, my team runs monthly challenges the help encourage, motivate and keep you accountable when using our products. Although I did not partake in The Three Day Refresh as a challenge, I can put you in one and help you each step of the way. My next step is another round of The 21 Day Fix. The Three Day Refresh is a great way to jump start this program, too! A video for The Three Day Refresh can be found at http://bcove.me/ujlefhz0 If you're ready to start this cleanse, you can purchase The Three Day Refresh at http://www.beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/amandaruns131 by selecting "Shop Team BeachBody" and selecting "Three Day Refresh" on the left panel. Good luck!
xoxo, Run Barbie
Monday, May 11, 2015
Faith, Trust, & Pixie Dust: The 2015 Tinkerbell Half Marathon Weekend Recap
This weekend, I flew out to Anaheim, CA for my very first Disney Land runDisney event! I signed up for The Inaugural Pixie Dust Challenge last summer and the time had finally come for me to earn the coveted PINK Coast to Coast medal. This is my experience running the third most popular women's themed half marathon in the country (behind the Princess Half Marathon at #2 and Nike Women's Half Marathon at #1). In the end, I'll even tell you which I preferred: Tinkerbell Half Marathon or Princess Half Marathon.
After a cancelled flight and a delayed connecting flight, I landed in LAX pretty late on Friday. I picked up my rental car and headed straight to the expo. Once I got valet parking, I had just 20 short minutes to make it to the expo to pick up my race packet. I walked right up to the line and grabbed my bib and race shirts with just enough time to look around. The first thing I noticed: almost all the merchandise was sold out, including the wine glasses! All I really wanted was the wine glass. After all, I will run 13.1 miles in a big circle just to drink a big bottle of wine, guilt-free. The expo took place at The Disneyland Hotel and was open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Many of the usual runDisney vendors were at the expo.
After waking up bright and early on Saturday morning (3:15am to be exact), I took a ride on the Anaheim Resort Transportation. Four day transportation on the ART was included in race registration fees for the weekend. After being dropped off and walking through Downtown Disney to get to the starting line, I was ready to run. At the Tinkerbell races, bystanders were actually able to experience the energy and excitement at the starting line. Approximately 10,000 pixies took off just after 5:30 am in a total of four corrals. I was in corral B, so I didn't deal with much crowding on the course.
The course primarily took us through Disneyland and California Adventure parks. There were photo opportunities will all the Pixies (except for Tinkerbell) and plenty of water stations along the way. The course took us past Aurora's castle, but of course, actually running through the castle is reserved for The Tinkerbell Half Marathon course, only. The finisher medals were great. All the pixies were included on the medal, even Tinkerbell. I proudly wore my medal around Anaheim on Saturday (I even wore it the blue carpet event at The Tomorrowland World Premier!).
A carbo-load and early bedtime led to an easy 3:15 awakening for The Tinkerbell Half Marathon on Sunday morning. Upon arriving to the race, I was greeted with much more energy and excitement than the previous morning. With 16,000 registrants, The Tinkerbell Half Marathon spread runners across seven different corrals. Placed in corral B again, I did experience a lot of crowding just after takeoff. Although the course was very wide (sometimes spanning across five lanes of traffic), I felt the corrals were too big. This course started off exactly like The Tinkerbell 10k course for almost the first two miles. Tinkerbell made an appearance for photo opportunites around mile 4, with of course an expectedly long wait to meet the Pixie. After going through both parks, the rest of the course took us through neighborhoods and a downtown area in Anaheim. I did not see a character for the entire second half of the course since we were no longer on Disneyland property.
I finished the course with a high-five from one of my favorite characters, Minnie Mouse (my dog is even named after her)! Shortly after crossing the finish line, I was handed a Tinkerbell Half Marathon medal. I then proceeded to the tents to claim my Pixie Dust Challenge and Coast to Coast Challenge medals. Although all the medals this weekend were beautiful, my favorite piece of new bling is definitely The Coast to Coast medal. It features the iconic image of Walt holding Mickey's hand. I received the limited edition pink medal for completing both women's themed half marathons on each coast of the country. Since this is the only race-specific Coast to Coast medal given out by runDisney, the backside of the ribbons feature logos for both The Princess half Marathon and Tinkerbell Half Marathon.
In the end, I had a great experience during Tinkerbell Half Marathon Weekend. Would I do it again? Probably not. I enjoyed The Princess Half Weekend much more. There was an element of magic that was missing from Tinkerbell. The Princess Half Marathon kept the momentum going for 13.1 miles with music and characters all along the way. I would run through WDW back roads any day over downtown streets and neighborhoods in Anaheim. With the larger property, Walt Disney World is more successful at putting on an empowering race for female runners. I recall girls crying tears of joy upon crossing the finish line at The Princess Half Marathon and did not see anything like that at Tinkerbell. Running through Cinderella's castle was much more enchanting than running through Aurora's castle. The atmosphere was unparalleled. Both races were great, but when it comes down to it, I would take glass slippers over fairy wings any day. I will run The Glass Slipper Challenge every single year until I am no longer able to run. At that point, I still may even walk it just for the experience.
The 2016 registration for Princess Half Marathon weekend opens on Tuesday July 14th at Noon. If you are an annual passholder like myself, you can register early beginning Tuesday, June 20th at Noon.
runDisney has announced they will continue to host Tinkerbell Half Marathon Weekend during Mother's Day for future races as opposed to their original January host weekend. Registration for the 2016 Tinkerbell Half Marathon weekend will open up later this summer.
Have you run Princess and Tinkerbell Half Marathons? Which do you feel is the better race?
xoxo,
RunBarbie
After a cancelled flight and a delayed connecting flight, I landed in LAX pretty late on Friday. I picked up my rental car and headed straight to the expo. Once I got valet parking, I had just 20 short minutes to make it to the expo to pick up my race packet. I walked right up to the line and grabbed my bib and race shirts with just enough time to look around. The first thing I noticed: almost all the merchandise was sold out, including the wine glasses! All I really wanted was the wine glass. After all, I will run 13.1 miles in a big circle just to drink a big bottle of wine, guilt-free. The expo took place at The Disneyland Hotel and was open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Many of the usual runDisney vendors were at the expo.
After waking up bright and early on Saturday morning (3:15am to be exact), I took a ride on the Anaheim Resort Transportation. Four day transportation on the ART was included in race registration fees for the weekend. After being dropped off and walking through Downtown Disney to get to the starting line, I was ready to run. At the Tinkerbell races, bystanders were actually able to experience the energy and excitement at the starting line. Approximately 10,000 pixies took off just after 5:30 am in a total of four corrals. I was in corral B, so I didn't deal with much crowding on the course.
The course primarily took us through Disneyland and California Adventure parks. There were photo opportunities will all the Pixies (except for Tinkerbell) and plenty of water stations along the way. The course took us past Aurora's castle, but of course, actually running through the castle is reserved for The Tinkerbell Half Marathon course, only. The finisher medals were great. All the pixies were included on the medal, even Tinkerbell. I proudly wore my medal around Anaheim on Saturday (I even wore it the blue carpet event at The Tomorrowland World Premier!).
A carbo-load and early bedtime led to an easy 3:15 awakening for The Tinkerbell Half Marathon on Sunday morning. Upon arriving to the race, I was greeted with much more energy and excitement than the previous morning. With 16,000 registrants, The Tinkerbell Half Marathon spread runners across seven different corrals. Placed in corral B again, I did experience a lot of crowding just after takeoff. Although the course was very wide (sometimes spanning across five lanes of traffic), I felt the corrals were too big. This course started off exactly like The Tinkerbell 10k course for almost the first two miles. Tinkerbell made an appearance for photo opportunites around mile 4, with of course an expectedly long wait to meet the Pixie. After going through both parks, the rest of the course took us through neighborhoods and a downtown area in Anaheim. I did not see a character for the entire second half of the course since we were no longer on Disneyland property.
I finished the course with a high-five from one of my favorite characters, Minnie Mouse (my dog is even named after her)! Shortly after crossing the finish line, I was handed a Tinkerbell Half Marathon medal. I then proceeded to the tents to claim my Pixie Dust Challenge and Coast to Coast Challenge medals. Although all the medals this weekend were beautiful, my favorite piece of new bling is definitely The Coast to Coast medal. It features the iconic image of Walt holding Mickey's hand. I received the limited edition pink medal for completing both women's themed half marathons on each coast of the country. Since this is the only race-specific Coast to Coast medal given out by runDisney, the backside of the ribbons feature logos for both The Princess half Marathon and Tinkerbell Half Marathon.
In the end, I had a great experience during Tinkerbell Half Marathon Weekend. Would I do it again? Probably not. I enjoyed The Princess Half Weekend much more. There was an element of magic that was missing from Tinkerbell. The Princess Half Marathon kept the momentum going for 13.1 miles with music and characters all along the way. I would run through WDW back roads any day over downtown streets and neighborhoods in Anaheim. With the larger property, Walt Disney World is more successful at putting on an empowering race for female runners. I recall girls crying tears of joy upon crossing the finish line at The Princess Half Marathon and did not see anything like that at Tinkerbell. Running through Cinderella's castle was much more enchanting than running through Aurora's castle. The atmosphere was unparalleled. Both races were great, but when it comes down to it, I would take glass slippers over fairy wings any day. I will run The Glass Slipper Challenge every single year until I am no longer able to run. At that point, I still may even walk it just for the experience.
The 2016 registration for Princess Half Marathon weekend opens on Tuesday July 14th at Noon. If you are an annual passholder like myself, you can register early beginning Tuesday, June 20th at Noon.
runDisney has announced they will continue to host Tinkerbell Half Marathon Weekend during Mother's Day for future races as opposed to their original January host weekend. Registration for the 2016 Tinkerbell Half Marathon weekend will open up later this summer.
Have you run Princess and Tinkerbell Half Marathons? Which do you feel is the better race?
xoxo,
RunBarbie
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
RunDisney Registration
Some information has been updated on 7/12/2016 to reflect current RunDisney policies.
So you're interested in running around Walt Disney World or Disneyland and you need some help getting through the registration process... Well, you've come to the right place! I have been participating in RunDisney for a few years and have gotten into every race I've wanted since registering for my first race in 2013. I'm fast and efficient when it comes to registration and I have some tips to ensure YOU will get into the race you want. Before you know it, you'll be training for your dream race!
I tell my friends all the time that registering for a runDisney event is no joke. It takes strategy because these races sell out very quickly, sometimes in just minutes. If you're a little late to the party, you can plan on being placed in a queue between 5-30 minutes before beginning registration. If you're too late to the party, you can count on these races selling out! Also, expect the website to run slower than usual (Lilly girls crashing the internet during the Endless Summer Sale kinda slow). I typically have the RunDisney website pulled up on my computer at least 15 minutes prior to the start time so I can avoid any queue line and register without interruption. I also have an account with active.com, so logging in beforehand and having all your information ready will speed up this process. Once the website allows you onto the registration page, you will have 15 minutes to complete your registration.
During registration, runners will be given the opportunity to submit a Proof of Time for corral placement if they believe they will complete a Half Marathon in 2:45 or less. Proof of Time is no longer required for runners who believe they will require more than 2:45 to finish the Half Marathon. Since you only have 15 minutes to complete registration, I recommend waiting to submit your POT. This can be done up to approximately three months before the race. A POT for a Half Marathon must be a distance of 10k or longer and a POT for the Marathon must be a Half Marathon distance or longer. Failing to submit a POT can result in placement in the last corral so it is very important you return to the website during the time frame to submit this information. Simply select the event you are submitting a POT for, select the registration tab, and scroll down to Proof of Time for the link. Deadlines vary for all races, so be aware of the POT deadline for the race which you are registering.
During registration, the runDisney Twitter page will post updates on the status of its races.
Although the runDisney website does not update immediately, the 10k is usually the first race distance to sell out. The challenges and 5k's are also very popular. I have seen the 2014 Wine & Dine Half Marathon take 24+ hours to sell out while the 2015 Wine & Dine Half Marathon sold out in approximately 30 minutes. Princess Half Marathon and Glass Slipper Challenge has taken approximately two hours to sell out since I began running it. There really is no way to tell how quickly an event will sell out, so it's important to register sooner rather than later.
Since registration can be a little overwhelming, I have a few other options to get you running the most magical miles on Earth:
1) Early registration is available for annual passholders. This registration opens up one week early and is also available for Disney Vacation Club members. From my experience, there are not crazy queue lines or errors loading the website. If you're going to run more than one runDisney event per year, it's well worth it to invest in the annual pass. I have one and it's already saved me money on my trips.
2) Run through a charity. I ran the 2016 Dopey Challenge for St. Jude. I bypassed all the craziness of registration by going directly to the St. Jude website. I searched for WDW Marathon Weekend and was able to register for The Dopey Challenge within minutes. At the time of my registration, only 5 spots were remaining for The Dopey Challenge. There were also limited spots available for all other races and challenges so these do tend to sell out quickly, as well. A full list of charities participating during each individual race weekend are listed on the event page under Registration. The links will provide you with information regarding fundraising minimums and benefits. For your reference, The 2016 Dopey Challenge required a minimum $2,500 donation and includes registration for all four races, a pre-race pasta party ticket and post-race hospitality tent. If you would like to donate to St. Jude on my behalf, you can do so at www.heroes.stjude.org/AmandaRunsChicago
I also have tips for fundraising as well as more information on running for charity here.
3) Lastly, you can run through a travel provider. Participating travel providers are listed under the Registration tab on the event page and the links will provide you with the requirements for each one. They typically require a minimum hotel stay or the purchase of park tickets. These will cost no more money than if you purchased them yourself and you get the added benefit of a Disney vacation planning specialist to guide you in booking your vacation. Requirements will be listed on their website.
Now, you should be all set to register for a runDisney event! What events are you running in the upcoming year? Do you have your costumes planned out yet? What about a training plan? Share your experiences registerring for your first RunDisney event below!
xoxo,
Amanda
So you're interested in running around Walt Disney World or Disneyland and you need some help getting through the registration process... Well, you've come to the right place! I have been participating in RunDisney for a few years and have gotten into every race I've wanted since registering for my first race in 2013. I'm fast and efficient when it comes to registration and I have some tips to ensure YOU will get into the race you want. Before you know it, you'll be training for your dream race!
I tell my friends all the time that registering for a runDisney event is no joke. It takes strategy because these races sell out very quickly, sometimes in just minutes. If you're a little late to the party, you can plan on being placed in a queue between 5-30 minutes before beginning registration. If you're too late to the party, you can count on these races selling out! Also, expect the website to run slower than usual (Lilly girls crashing the internet during the Endless Summer Sale kinda slow). I typically have the RunDisney website pulled up on my computer at least 15 minutes prior to the start time so I can avoid any queue line and register without interruption. I also have an account with active.com, so logging in beforehand and having all your information ready will speed up this process. Once the website allows you onto the registration page, you will have 15 minutes to complete your registration.
During registration, runners will be given the opportunity to submit a Proof of Time for corral placement if they believe they will complete a Half Marathon in 2:45 or less. Proof of Time is no longer required for runners who believe they will require more than 2:45 to finish the Half Marathon. Since you only have 15 minutes to complete registration, I recommend waiting to submit your POT. This can be done up to approximately three months before the race. A POT for a Half Marathon must be a distance of 10k or longer and a POT for the Marathon must be a Half Marathon distance or longer. Failing to submit a POT can result in placement in the last corral so it is very important you return to the website during the time frame to submit this information. Simply select the event you are submitting a POT for, select the registration tab, and scroll down to Proof of Time for the link. Deadlines vary for all races, so be aware of the POT deadline for the race which you are registering.
During registration, the runDisney Twitter page will post updates on the status of its races.
Although the runDisney website does not update immediately, the 10k is usually the first race distance to sell out. The challenges and 5k's are also very popular. I have seen the 2014 Wine & Dine Half Marathon take 24+ hours to sell out while the 2015 Wine & Dine Half Marathon sold out in approximately 30 minutes. Princess Half Marathon and Glass Slipper Challenge has taken approximately two hours to sell out since I began running it. There really is no way to tell how quickly an event will sell out, so it's important to register sooner rather than later.
Since registration can be a little overwhelming, I have a few other options to get you running the most magical miles on Earth:
1) Early registration is available for annual passholders. This registration opens up one week early and is also available for Disney Vacation Club members. From my experience, there are not crazy queue lines or errors loading the website. If you're going to run more than one runDisney event per year, it's well worth it to invest in the annual pass. I have one and it's already saved me money on my trips.
2) Run through a charity. I ran the 2016 Dopey Challenge for St. Jude. I bypassed all the craziness of registration by going directly to the St. Jude website. I searched for WDW Marathon Weekend and was able to register for The Dopey Challenge within minutes. At the time of my registration, only 5 spots were remaining for The Dopey Challenge. There were also limited spots available for all other races and challenges so these do tend to sell out quickly, as well. A full list of charities participating during each individual race weekend are listed on the event page under Registration. The links will provide you with information regarding fundraising minimums and benefits. For your reference, The 2016 Dopey Challenge required a minimum $2,500 donation and includes registration for all four races, a pre-race pasta party ticket and post-race hospitality tent. If you would like to donate to St. Jude on my behalf, you can do so at www.heroes.stjude.org/AmandaRunsChicago
I also have tips for fundraising as well as more information on running for charity here.
3) Lastly, you can run through a travel provider. Participating travel providers are listed under the Registration tab on the event page and the links will provide you with the requirements for each one. They typically require a minimum hotel stay or the purchase of park tickets. These will cost no more money than if you purchased them yourself and you get the added benefit of a Disney vacation planning specialist to guide you in booking your vacation. Requirements will be listed on their website.
Now, you should be all set to register for a runDisney event! What events are you running in the upcoming year? Do you have your costumes planned out yet? What about a training plan? Share your experiences registerring for your first RunDisney event below!
Amanda
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